Denver Broncos: Possible Solutions at Left Tackle?

Not again?

For the second time in three seasons, the Denver Broncos will apparently be minus their best offensive linemen. And this time, it looks like it will be for the entire 2015 campaign.

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Via Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post, four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Ryan Clady has torn his left ACL, confirmed by results of an MRI on Thursday. He is expected to miss the upcoming season, a big blow to an offensive front that already has a lot of question marks at the moment. Of course, expected is all we are hearing at the moment.

Two years ago in Week 2 of a season in which the Broncos would reach Super Bowl XLVIII, Clay injured his foot in a game vs. the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium and it cost him the remainder of 2013. That year, Chris Clark filled in at left tackle in Clady’s absence. This past season when the standout blocker returned, Clark moved over to right tackle but had his issues. This offseason, Clark was in the mix for his old job but was certainly no lock this upcoming season.

May 27, 2015; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos tackle Ryan Clady (78) and guard

Ben Garland

(63) during organized team activities at the Broncos training facility. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

In any case, could Clark return to the left side this year? Could the team sign an unrestricted free agent such as Jake Long, released by the St. Louis Rams this offseason? According to both Jeff Legwold and Adam Schefter of ESPN (via Twitter), the Broncos added Ryan Harris on Thursday. While the veteran played for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014 he began his career in the Mile High City, where he was a third-round draft choice in 2007 and played four seasons with the club.

In any case, this is a Denver offensive line with enormous question marks already. Left guard Orlando Franklin, once the team’s right tackle, left for free agency and signed with the rival San Diego Chargers. Versatile Manny Ramirez was dealt to the Detroit Lions on the first night of the NFL draft this year. Center Will Montgomery, quarterback Peyton Manning‘s pivot down the stretch in 2014, signed with the Chicago Bears.

The team also made a deal this offseason to acquire center Gino Gradkowski from the Baltimore Ravens. As far as free agency, the team did sign Shelley Smith to replace Franklin at left guard.

Back to the real issue. General manager John Elway did use a second-round pick in 2015 to add tackle Ty Sambrailo from Colorado State. Could the rookie actually slide into the starting lineup sooner than later?

Even with a healthy Clady (and nothing has been determined yet in terms of his season), you can see the potential issues the Broncos may have on the offensive line. That’s bad news for a team with an aging quarterback, even one as great as Manning, and perhaps worst news for a club looking to improve its running game. It will be interesting to see how the organization address this unfortunate matter.

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